Movie Monday—The Man Who Wasn’t There

Movies have been rare for us lately with all the stuff we have going on in life, but yesterday, a Sunday morning, Gary and I just sat and caught a movie on tv.  It was The Man Who Wasn’t There, a Coen Brothers movie from 2001 with Billy Bob Thornton and of course, didn’t-I-just-say-Coen Frances McDormand.  Other faces I knew included James Gandolfini, Scarlett Johansson, and Michael Badalucco.   

We have been fans of the Coen Brothers  for many years, at least since Raising Arizona.  The Man Who Wasn’t There was one that I had heard about way back when it first came out, but we had never watched it.  I usually let Gary pick our movies since he’s much more knowledgeable about them.  I think he had the impression that this movie, following the well-known Fargo, The Big Lebowski, and O Brother, Where Art Thou? was not very promising, so we skipped it all these years. 

It was no Fargo or O Brother, but… we both liked it.  A black-and-white set in 1949, it’s one you might want to catch if you didn’t way back in 2001. 

Meet Bob

by Caroline

Bob is our new pet cat.

He’s really cuddley.

And so soft!

He’s really playful.

The kitty purrs like a motor running!!

Homecomings

 

The kids returned home from being gone for over a week to Grandma and Grandpa’s and Aunt Debra’s.  Everyone~kids, parents, dog~seemed very happy to be reunited!

And our own homecoming of sorts, we officially moved out to the farm last week.  All the beds are here now, the redneck trampoline, even Scooter.

And this little kitty adopted us right away.  We heard the loudest and saddest meowing for two nights while it was just Gary and I at the farm.  The next morning the rascal was up in Gary’s truck, would not come down, and was responsible for his being late to work.  Guess that’s when we actually became cat-owners.  As soon as the kids got home, kitty became very people-friendly and has been lugged around from sun up to sun down these past few days.  We’re not hearing anymore sad crying, just purrs of contentment and an occasional hiss at the ScooterDog. 

 

See Grant’s summer face.  It’s the little freckles popping out that make it.

And Sam’s summer look. 

And my eleven year old teenager boy.  Wow, did that happen so fast!

 

This was on Father’s Day as we were going out to supper at Pasta House.  We had such a good time!  The kids behaved wonderfully, ate well, and we all enjoyed actual conversation.  And the whole time, I was secretly, internally celebrating the absence of the moustache.  Gary came out of the bathroom that morning with that unexpected little big surprise.  I said it was my best Father’s Day ever!

Pardon me, but he’s just so handsome!  I told him he looks much younger and not so mean without the ‘stache.  He told me maybe he wasn’t going for that look. 

 

If this was a poll by Caroline, I’d definitely choose #1.

And this is home these days.

Messy, cramped, messy, and still disorganized, but it is home.  Yea!

Not so yea about this slow internet, but I guess that’s the price we pay for the wide open space.

Music Monday—RHCP Covers

Here’s a sampling of cover songs by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, with my Top 3 noted.   

3.  Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl) was a favorite of mine in 1972 when I was, yes, a 4 or 5 year old girl.  Such a great story-song, all about Brandy’s sailor’s story.  So memorable! 

And who doesn’t know these classic lyrics?

She works layin’ whiskey down

….

Brandy, wears a braided chain

Made of finest silver from the north of Spain

A locket, that bears the name

Of a man that Brandy loved

….

My life, my lover, my lady is the sea.

Here’s the Chilis’ cover from the By the Way era in 2003.

2. If You Want Me to Stay, originally by Sly and the Family Stone in 1973.  The Chilis covered this on their album Freaky Styley in 1985.  I love their version!  This was, of course, pre-Chad Smith and John Frusciante. Here you see and hear Cliff Martinez and Hillel Slovak. RIP Hillel.

1.   Havana Affair by The Ramones, was a cover the Chilis performed at Slane Castle in 2003, again in their By the Way era.  Such a fun cover!  I gifted myself this show’s DVD a couple of Christmases ago and still just love it, an overall excellent show!  So sad the four of them will probably never play together again.  What a dang shame is all I can say.

 

Here are a few other misc covers.  Did you know they’ve done the Beach Boys, Stevie Wonder, Ohio Players, and at least three Jimi Hendrix songs? 

Kids

 

Jack’s Band Parade at Six Flags.  I gave the band director’s wife my camera to use with the understanding that she would  make sure to take a few shots of Jack for me…

except that she thought Jack was Devin.  Nicely centered but…

 

But I did find him in a few other shots.

Jack loves to have his picture taken, you can tell.  Here you can also see the world’s most annoying person with a microphone. 

I miss my Mr. OrangeSocks 

and Mr. MiniWifeBeater. 

And all their crazy nonsense.

No, not SixFlags. Let's call it "New Bed Arrangement"

 

And this girl for sure.  Today’s her birthday. 

Here you can see her lovely new room.

She caught a whopper of a fish the other day.  Maybe even a few more since then while she’s been at Grandma and Grandpa’s.

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

MISS CAROLINE!!

Miss all you kids! 

Love from your mama

Ugh….Life

 

Life is good.  I mean, what would we have without it?  But sometimes it gets harder than you are used to and it drains you.  Drains you mentally and physically, and whoa, then a recharge is a good thing.  A necessary thing.   

 

(Just some rambles clicking on to the keyboard from my fingers with my brain set on unfiltered)

Music Monday--By Gary

Well, not technically but he did have a major part in it. It’s fairly typical that every night while I am busy scurrying/sweating/slaving in the kitchen to put a decent supper on the table, he calls for me to come in and look at something he’s got pulled up on the computer. I come in and see it and try to show some brief interest for the latest political scenario or weaponry object or Craigslist “deal” he’s showing me. And then I rush off back to my kitchen and get back to my business at hand.

Well, tonight was different. He called me in for this video and I had to watch every stinking second, even if that meant the pork chops were a-burnin because it was something I just couldn’t NOT watch to completion.

Hope you enjoy it like I did!

Folks, We Got a House Here to Sell

Wish us luck! 

202walton.blogspot.com

Please tell me if you see anything that should be changed, wording done differently, non-flattering picture, ANYTHING!   And feel free to pass on to anyone that might be interested.  As Sam says, shanks! 

 

Combine Admittedly Redneck Trampoline with Dawn Dish Soap

and a water hose and this is what comes of it.  At the beginning, first you’ll see Grant and then Caroline eating a few bananas, throwing the peels, and then so convincingly slipping on them.   I’ve said it before: big goofnuts!

Sam:  BUBBLES!!

The Highest of Compliments?

 

We had a simple supper tonight--ham and cheese sandwiches, salad, and macaroni and cheese.  Caroline just came up to me so lovingly, gave me a hug, and said:

“Mom, you must be God’s wife because you cook everything so yummy!”

Doesn’t Happen Often

but today’s Grantism is actually brought to you by Jack!  Yesterday was Memorial Day.  We were pulling into Culvers (so conveniently located between the two houses we own!) and Jack noticed their flashing marquee to read:

Free Scoop for Vets Today 

 

Jack:  Is this like Vet Appreciation Day?

Me:  Well, yes.  Memorial Day is the day we remember the people who have died for our country.

Jack:  Ooooh, I thought it was veterinarians that get the free ice cream.